As a personal trainer in London, I train clients in their own homes, but also in the park (excluding the Royal Parks, which charge a large fee). Here are 6 fantastic parks in Hackney which offer some great sports and fitness options:
Clissold Park
Bordered by Church Street and Green Lanes, London N16 9HJ, Clissold Park is one of my favourites in Hackney. There are tennis courts, running tracks, a lake to jog round, table tennis, and large open green space for football (but no marked football pitches).
Nearest transport links: Arsenal tube, Manor House tube, Stoke Newington train station.
Hackney Marshes
On Homerton Road, London E9 5PF, Hackney Marshes is famous for having the biggest collection of football pitches in the country. There are a whopping 82 football, rugby and cricket pitches, and 31 sports changing rooms in Hackney Marshes Centre. This park also has extensive jogging paths and cycle paths.
Nearest transport links: Leyton tube, Hackney Wick overground.
London Fields Park
Bordered by London Fields Westside, London E8 3EU, London Fields Park has a cricket pitch, two tennis courts, table tennis, and sports changing rooms.
Nearest transport links: London Fields train station, Hackney Central overground.
Hackney Downs
On Downs Park Road, London E5 8NP, Hackney Downs has one of the most extensive sports and fitness options of any park in Hackney.
There are basketball courts, a floodlit multi-use games area, football pitch and changing rooms, tennis courts, an athletics track, ‘Get Walking, Keep Walking’ groups, and group exercise classes such as Tone Zone, Basketball Fit, and Box Fit.
Nearest transport links: Rectory Road train station, Hackney Central overground.
Haggerston Park
On Queensbridge Road, London E2 8NS, this park is also bordered by Goldsmiths Row and Hackney Road.
Haggerston Park is home to Hackney BMX bike Club, with its BMX track. The park also has an athletics track, basketball court, and table tennis.
Nearest transport links: Hoxton overground, Haggerston overground, and Bethnal Green tube.
Mabley Green
On Lee Conservancy Road, London E9 5RN, this park offers an outdoor gym, a climbing rock, astroturf football pitch, grass football pitches and changing rooms, and running groups.
Nearest transport links: Homerton overground, Hackney Wick overground
More London parks will be featured in upcoming blog posts.
Dominic Londesborough is a personal trainer in London